Inclination indicating device



Dec. 22, 1942. R. E. wlLEY 2,305,944

INCLINATION 'INDICATING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 25, 1940 r v R055 E lV//ey De.22,1942. Rf E. www '2,305,944

INGLINATION INDIGATING DEVICE,

Dec. 22, 1942. R. awlLEY INCLINATION INDICATING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed sept. 2:5, 194@ Nm Nm Om,

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R055 f. W/ey Patented lZ2, 1942 INCIJNATION INDICATING'DEVICE Boss E. Wiley, Long Beach, Calif., assigner to Y Eastman Oil Well Survey Company,

c! Delaware, Corporation, Calif., a corporation of California,

Septemberi23, 1940, Serial No. 357,925

Tex., a corporation Oil Well Survey Application Dallas, and Eastman Long Beach,

jointly 13 Claims. (Cl. .3B-205.5)

'This invention relates to new and useful improvements in inclination indicating devices.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved device which may be lowered into the well bore and which will accurately indicate and record the deviation or drift of saidbore from the vertical, whereby the angular' disposition of the bore, either during the drilling operations or after drilling is complete, may be determined.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved inclination or drift indicator wherein the record is made by mechanical, rather than photographic, means, whereby the disadvantages incidental to the use of photographic iilm, are eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device having a plumb bob which carries a marking element arranged tc engage an index member, the plumb bob and member normally spaced from each other and being movable toward each other to engage the member and marking element to form a record of the position of the plumb with respect to the vertical.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device, of the character described, wherein an improved time-controlled mechanism is employed for imparting a reciprocating movement to the disk on which the record is made, whereby said disk is moved into engagement with the marking element carried by the plumb bob at a predetermined time; said mechanism being relatively simple in construction and requiring .no further adjustment after its original manufacture and assembly.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved inclination indicator having the operating mechanism for the record disk associated with a watch or clock mechanism which controls the time of actuation of said operating mechanism; the arrangement being such that a single setting element is employed for properly setting the clock mechanism and for simultaneously resetting nism. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved drift indicator, of the character described, wherein the marking element which is carried by the plumb bob is depressible and also rotatable,` whereby when engaged by the index member, a positive mark or point on said member is assured.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

and wherein:

taken on the line from a reading of the following speciilcation and by reference to the accompanying drawlngs, in which an example of the invention is shown,

' Figure 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation of an inclination indicator, constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, 2--2 of Figure 1, Figure 3 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical, sectional view of the lower portion of the plumb bob, showing the marking element in a lowered position, prior to engagement with the index disk, the latter being shown in dotted lines,

Figure 4 is a view, similar to Figure 3, with the marking element having been raised by engagement with the disk,

the operating mecha- Figure 5 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, illustrating the timing and operating mechanism,

Figure 6 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5,

Figures, 'l-8, 9-10 and ll12 are schematic views of the operating mechanism for the index disks, said views illustrating the various positions of said mechanism during actuation thereof, and

Figure 13 is a plan view of the record made by the device. 4

In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates an elongate, tubular casing which is preferably constructed of two main sections A and B which are connected to each other by means of a coupling collar or block Il. The upper section A is formed with an internal annular flange l2 which is located at its upper portion and the upper end of said section is closed by a suitable plug or cap I3. A plumb bob I4 is mounted within the upper section A and is-arranged to undergo a universal movement therein. As is clearly shown in Figures 1 to 4, the plumb bob includes a main ybody portion which has a general conical shape and this body portion is provided with an upstanding stem l5. The plumb bob is'suspended by means of a Cardan suspension which includes an inner ring I6 which is pivoted to the upper end of the stem l5 by a pivot pin Il. The inner ring i6 also has a pivotal connection with a supporting collar I8 through pvot pins I9, the latter pins being disposed at substantially a right angle to the axis of the pin l1. As is well known, a Cardan suspension permits a universal movement of the element supported thereby. It is manifest that The invention will be more readily understood this mounting of the upper end oi the plumb bob H causes the plumb bob to retain a vertical position, regardless of the inclination of the tubular' casing A.

The low r portion of` the neous rotation of the 'element Such dot is representative the vertical supper-tin 0 into g member nection 39 is located near the outer periphery of the actuating disk Said disk is operation and actuating disk which is 40 is provided secured thereto andalso to accomplish such resetting, the

with a pinion 45 to the stub stem 42 so as to be simultaneously rotatable with the disk is in constant en- The resetting member 49 has an inwardly directed'lug 5I` on its lower end and this lug extends substantially to the central portion oi the casing and overlies a resetting stem 52 which is slidably mounted within, and which Vextends through an axial opening 50a provided in the plug 56. The upper end of the stem is formed with a resetting pinion 53 and below said pinion 4exerting its pressure tol urge the stem 52 downwardly relative to the plug. In its lowermost po'sition, the pinion 53 at the upper end of the stem 52 is spaced immediately below the angular lug 5i of the angular resetting element 49.

In accomplishing a resetting of the actuating disk 46, 'the stem 52 is moved' upwardly under tension of its spring so that the pinion 53 will strike the underside of the angular lug 5I and impart an upward movement to the angular setting element. Such upward movement oi the element 49 will impart a similar movement to extends beyond the. inner surface of said gear rack. With this arrangement, an upward movement of the setting element 49 will first result in an upward movement of the gear rack but upon initial movement, the latch bar 62 is not engaged by the element 49. However, after the element 49 has moved a predetermined ydistance upwardly, its upper end will engage the shoulder 62a on the lower latch bar 62 and will impart an upward movement to this latch bar.

In the operation of the upper and lower latch bars 6I and 62, said latch bars are in the posithe gear rack 46, whereby a clockwise rotation is imparted to the pinion 45 andthe actuating disk 46. Such clockwise movement continues until the link 36 is moved from the position shown in full lines in Figure 6 to the position shown in dotted lines in this figure and at this time, a notch 60 which is formed in the periphery of the actuating disk 40 is moved into alinement with an upper latching bar 6|. When the latching barengages the notch 6B (Fig. 10), further rotation of the disk 46 is prevented. As the disk is rotated to this position and into engagement with the latch bar 6 i, the ilat spring 44 is wound, whereby when the latch bar 6I is disengaged from the notch 66, the spring will immediately impart a counter-clockwise rotation to the disk to reciprocate the member 32 and thereby perform the marking operation. as has been explained. l

The upper latching bar 6l is conilned between the guide plates 49a and has its lower end inter- 'connected with a lower latching bar 62 by means of'recesses 63 and lugs 64 (Fig. 5). When the lugs of the latching bars are engaging each other as shown in Figure 5, the endsA of said bars are spaced from each other, being held apart by means of a coiled spring 65. latching bar 62 is constantly urged downwardly relative to the upper latching bar by means of a wire spring 66, which engages within a recess 61 y in the lower -bar (Figures 5 and 6).

The lowermostL bar 62.

tion shown in Figure 5 immediately after the marking operation has been performed. At this time, the lower bar 62 is engaged within the notch 68 of the control disk 619, while the upper bar 6| has its upper end 'disengaged from the notch 6D of the actuating disk 40. In resetting the mechanism, the resetting element 49 is moved upwardly by means of the resetting stem 52, as has been explained. Upon initial upward movement of such element, the gear rack imparts a rotation to the actuating disk 40 so as to move the notch 60 toward the upper latching bar 6i. During such initial movement, the lower latch bar remains in its same position engaging the notch. As soon as the resetting element 49 has `moved upwardly a suilicient distance to engage the shoulder 62a of the lower latch bar 62, said lower latch bar is moved upwardly so as to disengage its lower end from .the notch 68 in the control disk, such upward movement being against the pressure of the wire spring 6'6 and also against thel pressure of the coil spring 65 between the latch bars., By the time that the upper end of the latch bar 62 engages the lower end of the latch bar 6|, the notch 66 has been alined with the upper latch bar 6i and as soon as this alinement occurs, the spring 65 immediately moves the upper latch bar into the notch to lock the actuating disk. A continued operation of the resetting stem 52 will result in a resetting of the clock mechanism, as will now be explained, whereby the control disk 69 is rotated during such resetting of the clock mechanism. This rotation of the control disk 69 misalines the notch 68 therein with the lower latch bar 62, whereby said latch bar will engage the periphery of the disk. The parts remain in this position until such time as the clock mechanism C has rotated the con-1 rtrol disk 69 back to a position where the notch 66 therein is again alined with the lower latch As soon as this occurs, the wire spring 66 pushes the lower latch bar 62 downwardly into said notch and such downward movement imparts a downward movement to the upper latch bar 6| through the interconnection of the lugs 64 and recesses 63. It is manifest that a downward movement of the latch bar 6| will result in The lower end of the lowermost latch bar 62 is adapted to engage within a notch 68 which is formed in the periphery of a control disk 69. This control disk is mounted upon the drive shaft 16 of the clock mechanism C and is controlled in its rotation by said clock mechanism, as will be hereinafter explained. By observing Figure 5 it will be seen that the lower end of the latch bar 62 is reduced to provide a lateral shoulder 62a which is spaced from the lower end thereof. The angular resetting element 49 which engages the lower end of the gear rack 46 has a greater transverse width than said gear rack, whereby a pora disengagement of said bar from the notch 66 of the actuating disk 40, whereby the spring 44 may rotate the disk in a counter-clockwise direotion'to perform the marking operation.

The clock mechanism C is of the standard construction and includes a setting gear 1l which is fixed on the m-ain shaft 16. This setting gear is located in a plane above the teeth of the resetting pinion 5 3,. whereby when saidv pinion is moved upwardly, its teeth will engage the teeth of the gear 1l. Thus, when the resetting stem 52 is moved upwardly it will first perform the resetting vof vthe operating mechanism for the record disk 30 and will then engage with the tion of the upper end of the resetting element resetting gear 1|. Upon a rotation of the stem 52, a similar rotation will be imparted to the l mounted within the casing. When the resetting gear 1|. is actuated through the resetting stem visible through a window 11 which is provided in the casing I8 and which is normally closed by a suitable lens 18. `By observing .the dial, the operator may rotate the gear 1| to set the clock mechanism for any predetermined time.

'I'he remainder of the clock mechanism C is of standard construction and includes the usual gear train 18, escapement mechanism 88, hair spring 8| yand balance wheel 82. Theparticular construction of this part of the mechanism is subject to variation as any suitable mechanism of this character may be employed.

In the operation of the device, assuming that the same is lto be prepared to obtain a reading, the parts are in the position shown in Figures 5 and 6. The device is at the surface of the well where the setting of the same is performed. In accomplishing this setting, theA resetting stem 82 is depressed under tension of-the spring 59,

whereby the pinion 53 is moved into engagement with the angular lug 5| of the setting element 48. Upon a continued depression of the stem 52, the element 49 serves to impart a movement to the gear rack 46 whereby the actuating disk 48 is rotated so as to move the link 38 from the position shown in full lines in Figure 6 to the position shown in dotted lines in this figure. During this rotation, the elements of the operating mechanism move to the position shown in Figures 7 and 8, the illustration in these figures showing the link 38 halfway through its movement.

As the element 48 continues its upward movement to complete the setting of the actuating disk 48, the upper end of said element strikes the overhanging shoulder 82a of the lower latch bar 82 and moves said latch bar upwardly so as to disengage its lower end from the notch 68 of the control disk 89. At this time, the upper latch bar 6| is riding on the periphery of the actuatlng disk 48. When suflicient movement has been imparted to the element 48 to cause the actuatlng disk to rotate sufiiciently to aline its notch 88 with the upper latch bar 6|, the coiled spring 55 between the upper and lower latch bars causes the upper latch bar to engage said notch and thereby lock the actuating disk 48 against movement. By the time that Vthis is accomplished, the setting pinion 53 has moved upwardly so as to engage its teeth with the teeth of the resetting gear 1| of the clock mechanism.' A rotation is then imparted to the stem 52 through the hand knob 56, whereby the gear 1| is rotated the desired number of degrees, as indicated by the dial 16 which is visible through the opening 11. The clock mechanism is thus set for the desired number of minutes.

As the gear 1| is rotated, a rotation is imparted to the main shaft 18 of the clock mechanism to wind the mainspring 14 and obviously, since the control disk 68 is secured to this shaft, the notch 68 therein is moved from beneath the lower latch ,52, the spring 14 is wound. A dial 16 is secured to the setting gear 1| and has a portion thereof .the setting of the clock mechanism and of 'oar 82 and is offset therefrom a number of degrecs, such number being in accordance with the time for which the clock mechanism is set. As the actuating mechanism is accomplished, the stem is returned to its lowermost position and at this time, the parts are in the position shown in Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings. The actuating disk 48 is locked against movement, being held so by the engagement of the latch bar 8| with the notch 88 and the notch 88 in the control disk 88 is misalined with the lower latch bar 82.

The record disk 38 is then inserted in position in its supporting member 32 below the plumb bob |4 and the device is ready to be lowered vinto the well bore. The timing or clock mechanism is so as to provide sufficient time for the instrument to be lowered to its proper position in the well bone. Upon reaching this position, the instrument is permitted to remain at rest until the clock mechanism'has operated a suiicient time to rotate the control disk 88 to a position with its notch 68 aimed with the lower latch bar 82. Of course, the plumb -bob I4 has remained lin a vertical position due to its univer-sal mounting and any inclination of the outer 'casing I8 due to an inclination of the well bore causes the marking element or stylus 25 to be of! center of the record disk 38. The number of degrees which said stylus is oil center of the disk is indicative of the number of degrees of inclinat1on from the vertical of the well bore.

As-soon as the control disk BShas rotated to aline its notch 88 with the lower latch bar 82, said latch bar immediately drops into said notch, being moved downwardly by means of the wire spring 86. Such downward movement of the bar 62 imparts a similar downward movement to the upper bar 6|, with is withdrawn from the notch 68 of the actuating disk. Withdrawal of the upper latch bar from its notch permits the flat spring 44 to immediately rotate the actuating disk 48 in a counter-clockwise direction (Figures 1l and l2) until the link 38 is again returned to the position shown in Figure 6. The rotation o! the disk 48 in this manner imparts a reciprocation to the operating rod 35, whereby the supporting element 32, together with the record disk 38 is reciprocated axially oi' the casing.

The axial reciprocation of the disk 38 causes said disk to engage the point of the marking element or stylus and results in a depression of said stylus. stylus causes a rotation thereof through the coacting lug 24 on said stylus and the spiral slot 23 in the guide sleeve 2|. Thus, the stylus not only engages the disk 38 but also rotates during such engagement to assure that the mark D is .clearly formed on the disk 38. Since the stylus 1s carried by the plumb bob and said plumb bob is oif center relative to the casing in accordance with the number of degrees of inclination, it is evident that the mark D which is so formed indicates the degrees of inclination of the casing |8. After the indication is made, the instrument is removed from the Well bore and the record disk 38 removed therefrom. The device is then reset and another disk substituted for the one removed, after which the instrument is again ready to take another reading. It is pointed out that the operating mechanism which imparts the reciprocation to the record disk is relatively simple. It is so associated with the timing mechanism that when said timing mechanism is set for a. predethe result that the upper bar As has been explained, depression of the for resetting the entire device,

termined time, the operating mechanism is automatically reset at the same time. This permits the use of a single resetting element or stem 62 both the clock and the operating mechanism.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire t secure by Letters Patent is:

pablo of universal movement therein, a depres-v sible and `positively rotatable marking stylus carried by the plumb bob, a record disk carrier be low the stylus and normally spaced therefrom, and operating means within said casing connected with the carrier for imparting a reciprocation 1. A device for determining the inclination of a well bore including, a casing adapted to be lowered into a well bore so as to assume the same inclination .as said bore, a marking element within the casing suspended `for universal movement therein, a record member below the marking element and normally spaced therefrom, means for imparting movement to the member to move the same into engagement with the marking element,

whereby an indication which is representative of the angular relation of the marking element and casing is formed on said record member, a clock mechanism for controlling the actuation of the last-named means', whereby said means is operated at apredetermined time, movable means for resetting the operating means after the actuation thereof, rotatable resetting means for resetting the clock mechanism, and a single manually movable and a rotatable member normally free from connection with the operating parts of the device and movable in one direction only, such movement actuating the movable resetting means to reset the operating mechanism and also resulting in an engagement of said member with the rotatable resetting means, whereby subsequent rotation of the member effects a resetting of the timing mechanism.

2. A device for determining the inclination of a well bore including, a casing adapted to be lowered into a well bore so as to assume the same inclination as said bore, a marking element within the casing suspended for universal movement therein, a record member below the marking element and normally spaced therefrom, a springactuated operating mechanism within the casing and connected with the member for imparting an axial movement to the member to move the same into engagement with the marking element, whereby an indication representative of the angular relation of the element and casing is formed on said member, latching means for locking the operating mechanism against operation, a c lock t mechanism associated with the latching means for releasing said latch to permit actuation of the operating mechanism at a predetermined time, a movable resetting element associated with the operating mechanism and with the latching means and adapted to reset the mechanism and latch upon its movement in one direction, rotatable resetting means associated with the clock mechanism for resetting the same, and a single manually operable rotatable member movable in one direction only and arranged to engage the resetting element and the rotatable resetting means for effecting resetting of the operating mechanism, latching means and clock mechanism upc-n movement in one direction and subsequent lrotation of the manually operable member.

3. An inclination indicating device including, a casing. adapted to be lowered into a well bore so as to assume the same inclination as said bore, a plumb bob mounted within the casing and cathereto, whereby said carrier is moved into engagement with the stylus to depress and rotate the same.

4. An inclination indicating device including, a casing adapted to be lowered into a well bore so as to assume the same inclination as said bore, a plumb bob mounted within the casing and capable of universal movement therein, a depressibie and positively rotatable marking stylus carried by the plumb bob, a record carrier below the stylus and normally spaced therefrom, operating means within said casing connected with the carrier for imparting a reciprocation thereto, whereby said carrier is moved into engagement with the stylus to depress and rotate the same, anda clock mechanism for controlling the actuation of the operating means, whereby said means is ac tuated at la predetermined time.

5. An inclination indicating device including, a casing adapted to be lowered into a well bore so as to assume the same inclination as said bore,

a plumb bob mounted within the casing and ca pable of universal movement therein, a depressible and positively rotatable marking stylus carvried by the plumb bob, a record carrier below the stylus and normally spaced therefrom, operating means within said casing connected with the carrier for imparting a reciprocation thereto, whereby said carrier is moved into engagement with the stylus to depress and rotate the same, a clock mechanism for controlling the actuation of the operating means, whereby said means is actuated at a predetermined time, and a single resetting meansassociated with the operating means and the timing mechanism for simultaneously resetting both the means and mechanism after the same have been actuated.

6. A device for determining the inclination of a well bore including, a casing adapted to be lowered into a well bore so as to assume the same inclination as said bore, a marking element within the casing suspended for universal movement therein, a record holding member below the marking element and normally spaced therefrom, an operating rod connected to the member, a rotatable spring actuated disk connected to the rod for imparting reciprocation to the rod and member to move said member into engagement with the marking element, a latching means for locking the disk against rotation, a timing mechanism having connection with the latching means for releasing said means and permitting actuation of the disk to impart reciprocatlon to the member, a movable resetting element associated with the operating disk and with the latching means and adapted to reset the disk and latch upon its movement in one direction, rotatable resetting means associated with the timing mechanism for resetting the same, and a single manually operable rotatable member for actuating the resetting element and the resetting means to effect resetting of the operating disk, latching means and timing mechanism.

7. A device for determining the inclination of a well bore including, a casing adapted to be lowered into a Well bore so as to assume the same inclination as said bore, a marking element within the casing suspended for universal movement therein, a record holding member below the marking element and normally spaced therefrom, an operating rod connected to the member, a rotatable spring actuated disk connected to the rod for imparting reciprocation .to the rod and member to move said member into engagement with the marking element, a latching means for locking the disk against rotation, a timing mechanism having a drive shaft on which a resetting gear is mounted, a control disk secured to said shaft and associated with the latching means for releasing the same and permit operation of the disk, a resetting stem movable axially of the casing and being rotatable, said stem being adapted to engage the resetting gear of the timing mechanism to reset said mechanism and said control disk, and a resetting element associated with the disk and latch and arranged to be engaged and moved in one direction by the stem upon movement of the stem to simultaneously reset said the pinion and reset the spring-actuated means,

and a slidable bar for engaging the rack and operable from the exterior of the casing for actuating the gear rack and thereby accomplish the resetting of the spring-actuated means, said slidable bar also having a connection with the latching member, whereby the latching member is re-engaged with the spring-actuated means to again lock the same against operation.

10. The combination with an inclination indicator having a plumb bob provided with a stylus and a support having a record member thereon below said stylus, of an operating means including, a spring-actuated rotatable disk, a connecting rod eccentrically connected to the disk and secured to the record member, whereby rotation of the disk imparts reciprocation to the support to move it into engagement with the stylus to mark said member, said disk having a notch in its periphery, a latching bar adapted to have one end engaged in said-notch for locking the disk '1 against rotation, a clock-controlled disk having a notch in its periphery adapted to receive the other end of the latch bar, said bar being of such length that when it engages the notch in the clockcontrolled disk, it is released from the spring-actuated disk to permit rotation of the latter, and a member normally engaging the spring-actuated means for preventing operation of said spring- -ot the spring-actuated means.

9. A device for determining the inclination of a well bore including, a casing adapted to belowered into a well bore so as to assume the same inclination as said bore, a marking element within the casing suspended for universal movement therein, a record holding member below the marking element and normally spaced therefrom, rotatable, spring-actuated means for imparting movement to the member to move the same into engagement with the marking element, a latching member normally engaging the spring-actuated means Afor preventing operation of said spring-actuated means, a rotatable clock-controlled element associated with the latching member for releasing said member from its engagement with the spring-actuated means to permit operation of the latter, a pinion secured to the spring-actuated means, a gear rack meshing with said pinion and arranged to be lmoved to rotate single resetting means for simultaneously resetting the spring-actuated disk and clock-controlleddisk, whereby the latching bar is re-engaged with the notch of the spring-actuated disk and is disengaged from the notch of the clockcontrolled disk to return the parts to their Original positions.

11. As a sub-combination in an inclination indicator, a plumb bob, having its upper end mounted to undergo universal movement, a depressible marking stylus mounted in the free end of said plumb bob, and coacting means on the stylus and plumb bob for imparting rotation to the stylus upon relative movement of the stylus and plumb bob whereby when said stylus is depressed it is also rotated.

, 12. As a sub-combination in an inclination indicator, a plumb bob mounted to undergo universal movement and having an axial bore in its free end, a non-rotatable sleeve disposed within the bore and having a helical guideway in its wall, a marking stylus within said sleeve having means co-acting with the guidevvayl whereby when the stylus is depressed said means and guideway impart a rotation thereto.

13. As a sub-combination in an inclination indicator, a plumb bob mounted to undergo universal movement and having an axial bore in its free end, a non-rotatable sleeve 4disposed within the bore and having a helical slot in its wall, a marking stylus within said sleeve having a radial pin engaging within said slot, whereby when the stylus is moved within the sleeve, a rotation is imparted thereto, and resilient means` for normally urging the stylus outwardly of the sleeve.

y ROSS E. WILEY. 

